Business Networking
Learn effective networking skills and build stronger connections with people you meet.
Enroll in CourseCourse overview
Online (VR optional)
English
29 online lessons
Digital certificate
5 VR scenarios
3 hours to complete
What you will learn
Techniques for building meaningful relationships with a wide range of people
How to win new business clients and advance your career
Why body language, what you say and how you say it impacts relationships
Understand how to network effectively online
Examine ways to follow up and maintain relationships
Find new business connections through networking
Effective networking is an important aspect of career development. Building relationships with a wide range of people can win you new business clients, increase your chance of finding a new job, as well as advancing your career.
Learn how to enjoy networking, make others feel at ease talking to you, how to enter and exit a group of people, and how to build meaningful connections. You'll learn different networking techniques with online classes and then practice these in virtual environments.
Online learning, done differently
We combine online classes with realistic practice for a unique learning approach. If you have a VR headset, you can practice what you learn in VR scenarios.
Learn with tutorial classes
You’ll complete a series of videos, quizzes, slideshows and case studies through our online platform - available to access at any time.
Practice in realistic VR
If you have a VR headset, you can practice what you learn in networking VR scenarios. Networking is just like any other skill - you need to practice to improve.
Improve with feedback
Receive feedback on your business networking skills through both online quizzes and the VR scenarios. This feedback will help you to improve your networking skills more effectively.
Featured in
Course curriculum
- Overview of the VirtualSpeech course. We explain how VR can help you improve your networking skills by letting you practice in realistic environments.
- Course overview
- Welcome
- Why networking is essential
- Before attending networking event, spend time preparing in order to get the most out of it. We discuss how to research the event and other participants, what to wear and delivering an elevator pitch.
- Finding the right networking events
- Research on the event and attendees
- Dress well, dress distinctively
- Get properly equipped
- Elevator pitch
- VR Training: Impromptu networking
- Learn how to connect with people by building rapport with them. Active listening, body language, storytelling and empathy are all covered in this section, which you’ll have to chance to practice in VR.
- Become an effective listener
- Body language and attentiveness
- Good storytellers create rapport
- The importance of empathy
- VR Training: Mirroring, eye contact and listening
- Building rapport with presentation skills
- This section covers essential tips for the networking event, including how to start and exit a conversation, conversation starters, how to enter a group conversion, and more.
- General networking tips
- How to exit a conversation
- Networking conversation starters
- How to tell a great story
- VR Training: Elevator pitch, exiting conversations and storytelling
- Networking Solo?
- Dealing with people who disagree with you
- Learn how to use social media and content creation to grow your online network. Discover how best to follow up, maintain connections you have made and connect with people you didn’t get to meet.
- Network through social media
- Create content to expand your network
- Following up and staying connected
- Connect with someone you didn’t meet
- A review of different networking opportunities and how to find them. We cover everything from conferences to local meetup events, to hosting your own dinners.
- Identify networking opportunities
- Hosting your own Events
- Hosting event alternatives
Your instructor
Joseph has led technical teams at companies such as Bookham and BML, and presented at events including the AUVSI, SEG and UAVNET conferences. He has 15 patents to his name and is a senior member of IEEE with a PhD in Electro-Physics from Cornell University.
VR Training Scenarios
If you have a VR headset, you can practice your networking skills at key points during the course. Here are the VR practice scenarios:
Networking Essentials
Practice active listening, eye contact and building rapport with multiple people at our virtual networking event. Learn the fundamentals of networking to prepare you for your real networking event.
Advanced Networking
Learn how to deliver an elevator pitch, tell a story, introduce yourself and how to end a conversation in a polite way. You can also test your listening skills with a quiz at the end.
Elevator pitch
Practice your elevator pitch in a virtual elevator. You'll have 30, 60 or 90 seconds to pitch yourself, your company or your product. Speech analysis provides feedback on performance.
Impromptu Networking
Practice quick-thinking by talking about a series of random slides for 30 seconds each. This will help you practice networking with anyone, as you'll be able to talk about a range of topics.
Active listening exercises
Two active listening exercises, the classic Goldilocks exercise and a conference call exercise. Quizzes at the end of both to test your listening skills.
350,000+
Learners in VR
4x
Faster than classroom training
6
Learning awards
What's included in this course
- 3 hours to complete
- 2 case studies
- 5 VR training scenarios
- All VR features
- Quizzes and assessment
- Earn a digital course certificate
- Flexible, self-led format
- Access to updated content
This course is in the following learning tracks
